Blue Jays Sign New Spring Training Lease With Dunedin Stadium

Toronto Blue Jays recently announced that they had signed a new spring training lease agreement with Dunedin Stadium in Florida for the next 25 years. The agreement has an extension clause where the lease can be extended for a 2 year period on 5 consecutive occasions.

Dunedin stadium has been the spring training home for the Blue Jays for the last forty years. The stadium secured extensive funding from Florida state, city, county and the Blue Jays in order to proceed with a massive makeover that is expected to commence from early next year. Pinellas County has committed $41.7 million; the state will pump in $5.6 million and an additional $13.7 million which will be paid out before December 31.

The Blue Jays had earlier set a Dunedin budget for $15.7 million but has now increased that to $20 million. The Jays will also provide $13 million in capital replacement costs and operating costs of $45.3 million spread across the 25 year lease period. The total renovation budget is estimated to be in the region of $81 million and should the total expenses exceed the budget, the Blue Jays will have to take care of the remaining expenses but do have provision to apply for additional funding.

Marissa Roberto

The renovation will see six fields getting an upgrade and while no plans have been finalized as of now, here are some of the proposed changes. The current seating capacity will be increased from 5, 500 to 8,500 and one of the fields will be transformed to replicate Rogers Centre. There will be 10 robotic 1080i HD cameras installed in each field and will be remotely operated. The Blue Jays operational department will collect video footage which will be essential for them in analysing and fine tuning the Blue Jays strategy.

The stadium will also see the addition of new clubhouses and offices, a hydrotherapy room that has different types of pools and tubs, a gym that will span 10,000 square feet, a yoga studio spanning 800 square feet, doctors’ examination room, a sports science lab and an X-ray room.

The Blue Jays have agreed to host a minimum of fifteen big league games each year, which means Dunedin stadium will see a minimum of 375 games during the 25 year lease period. The Blue Jays have also secured revenue rights from the sale of merchandise, food, concessions and parking while Dunedin has stadium naming rights.